SAMHSA, Department Of Health To Honor Cyndi Lauper At Heroes Of Hope

On May 9, 2012 (that’s tomorrow!) in Washington, D.C., the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will present Heroes of Hope, a tribute in honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.

During the 2012 Awareness Day, SAMHSA will honor America’s youth who’ve overcome trauma, as well as the people who’ve helped them become more resilient and triumph over their traumatic experiences.

Such people include family members, community members and health providers, and SAMHSA calls them the Heroes of Hope.

She shouldn’t need any introduction related to music (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” people!), but some of you might not know Lauper also is a staunch LGBT rights activist.

Cyndi Lauper is acting as the Honorary Chairperson for this year’s Awareness Day, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award her for her LGBT foundation, the True Colors Fund.

(Learn more about Lauper’s other foundations and campaigns, including her Give A Damn campaign for equality and the MAC AIDS FUND she participated in with Lady Gaga, over at her website’s charity page.)

Don’t live near D.C.? Don’t worry! Thanks to SAMHSA, you can watch the event live online. Just visit www.samhsa.gov/children from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EDT.

Also, more than 130 public and private organizations and 1,100 communities across the country have plans for the event, so check with mental health groups in your area to find out if any are hosting events in honor of this year’s Awareness Day.

While you wait, be sure to check out SAMHSA’s list of Early Childhood and Trauma Resources. Even if they aren’t relevant to you, pass this post along as they might be relevant to someone you know on- or offline.